Managing An Over-Subscribed Data Communication Network

Abstract

Managing a network involves accessing a network description of a network that includes links. Generation of a network view of the network is initiated according to the network description. One or more candidate links are identified, where a candidate link represents a link that is a candidate for partitioning the network. Graphical identification of the candidate links is initiated.

1 . A method for managing a network, comprising:
 accessing a network description of a network, the network comprising a plurality of links;   initiating generation of a network view of the network according to the network description;   identifying one or more candidate links of the plurality of links, a candidate link representing a link that is a candidate for partitioning the network; and   initiating graphical identification of the one or more candidate links.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the one or more candidate links of the plurality of links further comprises identifying that a link is a candidate link by:
 determining a first gateway network element servicing a first network element of the link;   determining a second gateway network element servicing a second network element of the link, the second network element adjacent to the first network element; and   identifying the link as a candidate link if the first gateway network element is different from the second gateway network element.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing an option for a management operation to be performed on at least one candidate link of the one or more candidate links.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the management operation comprises a management operation to be performed on a data communication channel of the at least one candidate link.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the management operation comprises a disable operation to disable a data communication channel of the at least one candidate link.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the management operation comprises a pass-through operation to pass a plurality of data communication channels of a plurality of candidate links of the at least one candidate link through a network element.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a request to perform a management operation on at least one candidate link of the one or more candidate links; and   performing the management operation on the at least one candidate link in response to receiving the request.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 presenting network information in the network view.   
   
   
       9 . A network management system for managing a network, comprising:
 a memory operable to:
 store a network description of a network, the network comprising a plurality of links; and 
   one or more processors coupled to the memory and operable to:
 initiate generation of a network view of the network according to the network description; 
 identify one or more candidate links of the plurality of links, a candidate link representing a link that is a candidate for partitioning the network; and 
 initiate graphical identification of the one or more candidate links. 
   
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , the one or more processors operable to identify the one or more candidate links of the plurality of links further comprises identifying that a link is a candidate link by:
 determining a first gateway network element servicing a first network element of the link;   determining a second gateway network element servicing a second network element of the link, the second network element adjacent to the first network element; and   identifying the link as a candidate link if the first gateway network element is different from the second gateway network element.   
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 9 , the one or more processors further operable to:
 provide an option for a management operation to be performed on at least one candidate link of the one or more candidate links.   
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the management operation comprises a management operation to be performed on a data communication channel of the at least one candidate link.   
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the management operation comprises a disable operation to disable a data communication channel of the at least one candidate link.   
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the management operation comprises a pass-through operation to pass a plurality of data communication channels of a plurality of candidate links of the at least one candidate link through a network element.   
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 9 , the one or more processors further operable to:
 receive a request to perform a management operation on at least one candidate link of the one or more candidate links; and   perform the management operation on the at least one candidate link in response to receiving the request.   
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 9 , the one or more processors further operable to:
 present network information in the network view.   
   
   
       17 . Logic for managing a network, the logic embodied in a medium and when executed by a computer operable to:
 access a network description of a network, the network comprising a plurality of links;   initiate generation of a network view of the network according to the network description;   identify one or more candidate links of the plurality of links, a candidate link representing a link that is a candidate for partitioning the network; and   initiate graphical identification of the one or more candidate links.   
   
   
       18 . The logic of  claim 17 , wherein identifying the one or more candidate links of the plurality of links further comprises identifying that a link is a candidate link by:
 determining a first gateway network element servicing a first network element of the link;   determining a second gateway network element servicing a second network element of the link, the second network element adjacent to the first network element; and   identifying the link as a candidate link if the first gateway network element is different from the second gateway network element.   
   
   
       19 . The logic of  claim 17 , further operable to:
 provide an option for a management operation to be performed on at least one candidate link of the one or more candidate links.   
   
   
       20 . The logic of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the management operation comprises a management operation to be performed on a data communication channel of the at least one candidate link.   
   
   
       21 . The logic of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the management operation comprises a disable operation to disable a data communication channel of the at least one candidate link.   
   
   
       22 . The logic of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the management operation comprises a pass-through operation to pass a plurality of data communication channels of a plurality of candidate links of the at least one candidate link through a network element.   
   
   
       23 . The logic of  claim 17 , further operable to:
 receive a request to perform a management operation on at least one candidate link of the one or more candidate links; and   perform the management operation on the at least one candidate link in response to receiving the request.   
   
   
       24 . The logic of  claim 17 , further operable to:
 present network information in the network view.   
   
   
       25 . A system for managing a network, comprising:
 means for accessing a network description of a network, the network comprising a plurality of links;   means for initiating generation of a network view of the network according to the network description;   means for identifying one or more candidate links of the plurality of links, a candidate link representing a link that is a candidate for partitioning the network; and   means for initiating graphical identification of the one or more candidate links.   
   
   
       26 . A network management system for managing a network, comprising:
 a memory operable to:
 store a network description of a network, the network comprising a plurality of links; and 
   one or more processors coupled to the memory and operable to:
 initiate generation of a network view of the network according to the network description; 
 identify one or more candidate links of the plurality of links, a candidate link representing a link that is a candidate for partitioning the network, a link identified as a candidate link by:
 determining a first gateway network element servicing a first network element of the link; 
 determining a second gateway network element servicing a second network element of the link, the second network element adjacent to the first network element; and 
 identifying the link as a candidate link if the first gateway network element is different from the second gateway network element; 
 
 initiate graphical identification of the one or more candidate links; 
 provide an option for a management operation to be performed on at least one candidate link of the one or more candidate links, the management operation comprising at least one of:
 a disable operation to disable a data communication channel of the at least one candidate link; and 
 a pass-through operation to pass a plurality of data communication channels of a plurality of candidate links of the at least one candidate link through a network element; 
 
 receive a request to perform a management operation on at least one candidate link of the one or more candidate links; 
 perform the management operation on the at least one candidate link in response to receiving the request; and 
 present network information in the network view.